BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The fall season for Lehigh University’s men’s and women’s rowing teams is set to commence this Saturday at the Steiner/Steinberg Boathouse in Allentown with a scrimmage that coincides with parents’ weekend.
Peter Costas, the Steven J. ’69 & Karen A. Lee Head Rowing Coach, expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming competition, stating, “It’s a great opportunity for us to challenge ourselves at full press. We’ve had great concentration and tone at practice, but the question is always going to be how we apply it in a competitive setting. This represents the first step this year in growing that skill.”
This event marks the first competitive experience for eleven incoming first-year athletes from both teams. Costas highlighted the excitement surrounding these novice rowers, noting, “Excited to see first-years come in, learn the ropes quickly, and inject a sense of fearless enthusiasm into different boats. Sara Petrovic, Noah Pelham, and Jacquelyn Bousquet-Smith have been immediate impact performers. We’re excited to see them continue to grow this fall.”
Not only has Coach Costas been impressed by the fresh talent, but he also remarked positively on the contributions of seasoned rowers. He stated, “Upperclassmen have set a tone to start the year; bringing energy, enthusiasm, and focus. Looking to see the spark that David Huang and Olivia Shafer provide during practice warmups translate to the full group during a competitive rep.”
Following this initial scrimmage, the Mountain Hawks will head to Shelton, Connecticut, on October 11 for the House of the Housatonic. Later in the month, they are set to compete in the prestigious Head of the Schuylkill regatta in Philadelphia. Costas expressed his anticipation for these events, saying, “Looking forward to returning to both Head of the Housatonic and Head of the Schuylkill. We are grateful for the challenge of competing on the course with top 25 Division-I programs at each race. This fall, we are looking to take another step in our confidence and execution under the bright lights of competitive pressure.”
Between these competitions, the team will participate in the renowned Head of the Charles regatta in Boston from October 18-19. Both the men’s eight+, men’s four+, and women’s varsity four+ have received invitations to compete at this significant event. Costas highlighted the importance of this opportunity by stating, “Excited to receive three bids to the Head of the Charles Regatta. The premier fall showcase of international rowing talent, and a crowd of 250,000 spectators is a good bar to have in mind as we think about translating practice execution into competitive environments. As with anything we do, this challenge provides us with a tremendous opportunity for growth to translate to our spring conference championships.”
The fall season will conclude with Lehigh’s annual Class Day Regatta at the Steiner/Steinberg Boathouse on November 1. Coach Costas fondly reflected on this event, stating, “Always fun to end the fall with class day. A celebration of the Lehigh Rowing Program community, we love connecting everyone from our newest walk-ons to our oldest alumni on Class Day.”
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